Дневник незначительного лица

           POOTER—Althoughyourjuniorbyperhapssometwentyorthirtyyears—whichissufficientreasonthatyououghttohavealongerrecordofthethingsandwaysinthisminiatureofaplanet—Ifeelitisjustwithintheboundsofpossibilitythatthewheelsofyourlifedon’ttravelsoquicklyroundasthoseofthehumblewriteroftheselines.Thedandyhorseofpastdayshasbeenknowntoovertaketheslowcoach.

           “DoImakemyselfunderstood?

           “Verywell,then!Permitme,Mr.Pooter,toadviseyoutoaccepttheverb.sap.Acknowledgeyourdefeat,andtakeyourwhippinggracefully;forrememberyouthrewdowntheglove,andIcannotclaimtobeeithermentallyorphysicallyacoward!

           “Revenonsànosmoutons.

           “Ourlivesrunindifferentgrooves.IliveforMYART—THESTAGE.Yourlifeisdevotedtocommercialpursuits—‘AlifeamongLedgers.’Mybooksareofdifferentmetal.YourlifeintheCityishonourable,Iadmit.Buthowdifferent!Cannotevenyouseetheoceanbetweenus?Achannelthatpreventsthemeetingofourbrainsinharmoniousaccord.Ah!Butchaçunàsongoût.

           “Ihaveregisteredavowtomountthestepsoffame.IMaycrawl,IMayslip,IMayevenfalter(weareallweak),butreachthetoprungoftheladderIwill!!!Whenthere,myvoiceshallbeheard,forIwillshouttothemultitudesbelow:‘Vici!’ForthepresentIamonlyanamateur,andmyworkisunknown,forsooth,savetoapartyoffriends,withhereandthereanenemy.

           “But,Mr